PCCLOCK DIGITAL CLOCK USER'S GUIDE Version 4.0 Copyright (c) 1991-1995 M. J. Sadaway. All rights reserved. * PCCLOCK can set your PC's clock to the exact time by modem, by calling the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado; the USNO (U.S. Naval Observatory) atomic clock in Washington, D.C.; or the NRC (National Research Council) atomic clock in Ottawa or Toronto, Ontario. * If you're a CompuServe member, PCCLOCK can also set your PC's clock to the nearest minute, by calling a CompuServe access number (usually a local call vs. long-distance for the atomic clocks). * PCCLOCK can display the date and time in big digits, in your choice of up to 80 designs supplied with the program or up to 20 designs you create yourself. * PCCLOCK can set your clock on request or can be run from AUTOEXEC.BAT to set your clock every n days or every time you restart your PC. * PCCLOCK can also be run to display the date and time whenever you and your computer are not otherwise engaged. * PCCLOCK also features manual setting, seconds display, 12- and 24-hour modes, alarm, optional ticking sound, and optional Big Ben chime. * PCCLOCK works with almost any modem and runs under DOS or as a DOS application under Windows 95, Windows 3.1, or OS/2. Getting Started --------------- Although detailed instructions follow, you probably won't need (or want) to read all of them before using PCCLOCK. To use PCCLOCK now, run the SETUP program and follow the on- screen instructions. SETUP will copy the necessary files to your hard disk and install PCCLOCK to run under DOS, Windows, or OS/2. Next, run PCCLOCK, press or (Configure), and follow the on-screen instructions to configure the program for your modem and geographic location. To set the date and time, press or (Set by Modem). If you like, try the other function keys, press to exit PCCLOCK, then type "pcclock /?" at the DOS prompt to review the program's command-line switches. Read further if you have problems or questions, and review the rest of the user's guide if you want to be sure you're familiar with all of PCCLOCK's features. If you do have problems or questions and can't find the answers here, whether you're just trying the program or you're a registered user, please let me know (see "Feedback"), and I'll be happy to help. Installation ------------ To install PCCLOCK, run PCCLOCK's SETUP program, and follow the on-screen instructions. There are many ways to run SETUP, depending on which operating system (Windows 95, Windows 3.1, OS/2, or DOS) you're using: 1. Double-click PCCLOCK's SETUP.EXE file, using My Computer or Explorer in Windows 95, File Manager in Windows 3.1, or a drive object in OS/2. 2. Enter "a:setup", "b:setup", or ":\\setup", as appropriate, after selecting Run from the Start menu in Windows 95, after selecting Run from the File menu in Program Manager or File Manager in Windows 3.1, at an OS/2 command prompt, or at a DOS prompt. 3. Use Add/Remove Programs in Windows 95's Control Panel. SETUP always installs PCCLOCK in a directory (or folder) named PCCLOCK on your hard disk, and it assumes your hard disk is drive C:. If you want to install PCCLOCK in another directory or on another drive, you can copy PCCLOCK.EXE and other desired files manually. PCCLOCK uses file PCCLOCK.DAT to save configuration parameters, modified clock designs, current settings, and other data, and it uses file PCCLOCK.LOG to record the results of each successful call to a time service. If these files are not present (e.g., when you first install PCCLOCK), PCCLOCK creates them in the directory from which PCCLOCK.EXE was run. (When using DOS versions earlier than 3.0, PCCLOCK locates PCCLOCK.DAT and PCCLOCK.LOG in the root directory of the current drive.) Although PCCLOCK can be run from a CD-ROM or write-protected diskette for trial use, it will be unable to create or update PCCLOCK.DAT and PCCLOCK.LOG, and it will display error messages to this effect. For normal operation, PCCLOCK should be installed on your hard disk. If you've run a previous version of PCCLOCK on your system and you install this version in the same directory, it will automatically upgrade your existing PCCLOCK.DAT file and continue to use the existing configuration, clock designs, and other settings. SETUP selectively installs only those files appropriate to the operating system from which it is run. When you give copies of PCCLOCK to friends and associates, please copy the original diskette or .ZIP file rather than the installed files. When uploading PCCLOCK to BBSs, please use the original .ZIP file and the filename PCCLK400.ZIP. Basic Operation --------------- Operating PCCLOCK is fairly straightforward. Most functions are selected by pressing the function keys, -, whose functions are normally displayed at the bottom of the screen. (On systems with 10 function keys, and are used instead of and .) Other functions are selected with command-line switches, whose functions can be displayed by using the "help" switch "/?" (the DOS command "pcclock /?"). Keyboard Functions ------------------ To perform a function, press the associated key, -, , or , as shown in Table 1, then follow any on- screen instructions. These keys are active whether the menu at the the bottom of the screen is on or off. +--------+--------+---------------------------------------------+ | Key | Label | Description | |========+========+=============================================| | F1 | Menu | Alternately displays and erases a list of | | | On/Off | keys and associated functions at the bottom | | | | of the screen. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F2 | Change | Allows a clock design to be selected as the | | | Design | current design, and allows the modification | | | | of existing designs and the creation of new | | | | designs. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F3 | 12/24 | Switches between 12- and 24-hour modes of | | | Hour | time display. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F4 | Date/ | Switches between display of time alone, | | | Time | date alone, and alternating date and time. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F5 | Tick | Alternately enables and disables ticking | | | On/Off | sounds that help you synchronize clocks and | | | | watches to your computer's clock. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F6 | Chime | Alternately enables and disables chiming | | | On/Off | every quarter hour. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F7 | Set | Displays the current date, and allows a new | | | Date | date to be entered through the keyboard. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F8 | Set | Displays the current time, and allows a new | | | Time | time to be entered through the keyboard. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F9 | Set | Displays the current alarm setting, and | | | Alarm | allows a new alarm time to be entered. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F10 | Alarm | Alternately enables and disables the alarm | | | On/Off | from ringing at the set time. Also | | | | silences the alarm if ringing. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F11 or | Con- | Displays and allows modification of | | Ctrl-C | figure | configuration parameters used when calling | | | | time services. | |--------+--------+---------------------------------------------| | F12 or | Set by | Sets date and time by calling the NIST, | | Ctrl-S | Modem | USNO, NRC, or CIS time service. | +--------+--------+---------------------------------------------+ Table 1. Keyboard Functions Pressing the key cancels the selected function, displays the registration reminder screen, or exits PCCLOCK. When no other function is selected, PCCLOCK responds to the , , left and right arrow, and other keys as though (Change Design) had been pressed, except that instructions for selecting a design are not displayed. Command-Line Switches --------------------- The switches shown in Table 2 can be specified as part of the DOS command used to run PCCLOCK. +----------+-----------------+----------------------------------+ | Switch | Alias | Function | |==========+=================+==================================| | /A | AUTO | Sets clock by modem, then exits. | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /An | AUTO:n | Sets clock by modem if not set | | | | within n (1-365) days, then | | | | exits. | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /Q, /Qn | QUICK, QUICK:n | Like /A and /An, except clock | | | | display and modem dialog not | | | | shown. | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /C | COLOR, COLOUR | Configures to use 16 colors (for | | | | color display). | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /G | GRAY, GREY | Configures to use 4 gray levels | | | | (for grayscale display). | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /M | MONO | Configures to use black, white, | | | | and bright white only (for | | | | monochrome display). | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /Cn, | COLOR:n, | Configures for color, grayscale, | | /Gn, | COLOUR:n, | or monochrome display; selects | | /Mn | GRAY:n, GREY:n, | clock design Cn (1-100), Gn | | | MONO:n | (1-40), or Mn (1-20) as default. | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /Fn | FKEYS:n | Configures to use n (10 or 12) | | | | function keys. | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /Sn | SPEED:n | Configures DTE speed for non- | | | | standard modems to n (300-56000) | | | | bps. | |----------+-----------------+----------------------------------| | /? or /H | HELP | Displays summary of command-line | | | | switches, then exits. (Any | | | | other switches are ignored.) | +----------+-----------------+----------------------------------+ Table 2. Command-Line Switches Notes: 1. The words in the "Alias" column may be used interchangeably with the single characters in the "Switch" column. 2. Either upper or lower case may be used. 3. Any switch (word or single character) may be preceded by "/", "-" or " ". 4. n may be preceded by ":" or "=". 5. The configuration switches (/C, /G, /M, /F, and /S) need to be specified only once. The settings of these switches are saved in the configuration file, PCCLOCK.DAT. The syntax of the switches is flexible, to accommodate the style you prefer. The commands "pcclock /A:7", "pcclock -a7", "pcclock A7", "pcclock auto:7", "PCCLOCK AUTO=7", and even "PCClock /Auto7" are equivalent. Please see "Setting Date and Time" for a full description of the /A (AUTO) and /Q (QUICK) switches. See "Configuration" for full descriptions of the /C, /G, /M, /F, and /S (COLOR, COLOUR, GRAY, GREY, MONO, FKEYS, and SPEED) switches. Clock Designs ------------- PCCLOCK displays the date and time using specified characters from the IBM extended character set. One extended character, called "Mark Char", is used to form the big digits. Another extended character, called "Space Char", is used to form the surrounding box. Separate foreground and background colors can be specified for both extended characters. Thus, six parameters specify a complete design. The clock designs are organized into pages of 20 designs each. When PCCLOCK is configured for a color display, five pages are available. Four pages are filled with 80 supplied designs. The fifth page is initially blank and may be used to store up to 20 of your own designs. For a grayscale display, two pages of designs are available. One page contains 20 supplied designs; the other is initially blank. For a monochrome display, only one page is available, with ten supplied designs and ten initially blank. When PCCLOCK is started, it uses either the current default clock design or chooses a clock design at random. When PCCLOCK is first installed, it is configured to use a specific default design. To select another specific default design or to select a random default design, press (Change Design), and follow the on-screen instructions. To create a design of your own or to modify any of the existing designs, press (Change Design), select the design you want to modify, then press . Follow the on-screen instructions to change any or all of the design's six parameters. The Change Design function also has options to erase a design and to restore a design's parameters to either their original values or to the values saved during a previous run of the program. Configuration ------------- If you want to use a time service other than NIST, you'll need to select it. If you don't live in the Eastern time zone, you'll need to configure PCCLOCK for your location. If your modem isn't connected to serial port COM1, you'll need to change the port setting. And, depending on your modem, you may need to change the commands PCCLOCK uses to initialize it, by selecting its make and/or type from PCCLOCK's list or possibly by entering appropriate "custom" commands. If you want to get the time from CompuServe, you'll need to change the modem commands PCCLOCK uses to dial your local 1200- bps access number. If you want to use another time service and live in the same area code or city, you may need to change the modem commands PCCLOCK uses to dial the time service's phone number. In a few cases, you may need to configure PCCLOCK for the type of display attached to your computer, the number of function keys on your keyboard, or the speed at which PCCLOCK communicates with your modem. More frequently changed configuration parameters, shown in Table 3, are accessed by pressing or (Configure) and set by following the on-screen instructions. Less frequently changed parameters are set with command-line switches, shown in Table 2. +--------------+------------------------------------------------+ | Parameter | Possible Values (* = Default) | |==============+================================================| | Time Service | NIST (Boulder, 1200 bps)*, USNO (Washington, | | | 1200 bps), NRC (Ottawa, 300 bps), NRC | | | Toronto, 300 bps), CIS (local, 1200 bps) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Time Zone | Newfoundland (-3:30), Atlantic (-4:00), | | | Eastern (-5:00)*, Central (-6:00), | | | Mountain (-7:00), Pacific (-8:00), | | | Alaska (-9:00), Hawaii-Aleutian (-10:00), | | | Universal | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | DST Observed | Yes*, No | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | UTC Offset | +0:00*, -13:00 to +11:00 | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Serial Port | COM1 (3F8h, IRQ4)*, COM2 (2F8h, IRQ3), | | | COM3 (3E8h, IRQ4), COM4 (2E8h, IRQ3), | | | COM1 (3F8h, polled), COM2 (2F8h, polled), | | | COM3 (3E8h, polled), COM4 (2E8h, polled) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Modem Type | Hayes-compatible 1200+, Hayes-compatible 2400+ | | | (default)*, AT&T 9600+ to ZyXEL 9600+, Custom | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Init | ^M~AT&F&C1&D2^M~*, other (See text.) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Dial (NIST) | ATDT1-303-494-4774^M*, other (See text.) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Dial (USNO) | ATDT1-202-653-0351^M*, other (See text.) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Dial (NRC1) | ATDT1-613-745-3900^M*, other (See text.) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Dial (NRC2) | ATDT1-416-445-9408^M*, other (See text.) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Dial (CIS) | ATDT1-???-???-????^M*, other (See text.) | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | Term | ~~+++~~ATH^M~~*, other (See text.) | +--------------+------------------------------------------------+ Table 3. Configuration Parameters "Time Service" specifies whether the NIST, USNO, or NRC atomic clock or CompuServe (CIS) is called to obtain the date and time and, for NRC, whether the Ottawa or Toronto service is used. If any service other than CompuServe is a local call, select that service, and change the "Dial" parameter, as described below. If you are a CompuServe member and want to obtain the time to the nearest minute, select CompuServe (CIS), and change the "Dial" parameter to call your local 1200-bps access number. Otherwise, select one of the other services based on your location. "Time Zone" specifies an adjustment for your location to the time supplied by the time service. Values for time zones in the U.S. and Canada are predefined; the values shown in parentheses are the corresponding adjustments to "universal" time (also known as UTC, GMT, or Zulu time). Outside these time zones, select the value "Universal", and set the "UTC Offset" parameter. "DST Observed" specifies whether or not Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in your location. PCCLOCK is able to automatically adjust for DST only if DST is observed between the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October, as it is in most of the U.S. and Canada. When "Time Zone" is set to "Universal", this parameter is not accessible, and "UTC Offset" must be adjusted to account for time seasons as needed. "UTC Offset" specifies an adjustment to the time supplied by the time service for locations outside the U.S. and Canada. The value specified can be zero, positive, or negative, and can be given in hours, minutes, or hours and minutes. This parameter is accessible only when "Time Zone" is set to "Universal". "Serial Port" specifies the port to which your modem is connected and the I/O method PCCLOCK uses to communicate with it. Ports COM1 through COM4 are listed twice, first with the standard I/O addresses and IRQ settings, then with the standard I/O addresses and the "polled" option (in parentheses). Select the value with the I/O address and IRQ setting corresponding to your hardware configuration. If your modem uses a nonstandard IRQ setting, select a "polled" value. If your modem uses a standard IRQ setting, but errors occur when PCCLOCK uses it, try selecting the corresponding "polled" value. Selecting a value with an IRQ setting causes PCCLOCK to use an "interrupt-driven" I/O method; selecting a value with the "polled" option causes PCCLOCK to use a "polled" I/O method. Neither method is compatible with all serial ports and modems. If neither method works correctly on your system, please contact the author for assistance. "Modem Type" specifies the type, or manufacturer and type, of your modem and controls the commands PCCLOCK uses to initialize the modem at the start of each call to a time service. If you have a 1200-bps modem, select "Hayes-compatible 1200+". If you have a 2400-bps modem, select "Hayes-compatible 2400+ (default)". If you have a 9600-, 14400- or 28800-bps modem, select the "AT&T 9600+" through "ZyXEL 9600+" setting corresponding to the manufacturer of your modem. If your modem's manufacturer isn't listed, try both "Hayes-compatible 2400+ (default)" and "Hayes 9600+". If neither setting works with your modem, set "Modem Type" to "Custom", and set the "Init" parameter as described below, or contact the author for assistance. "Init" specifies the commands needed to initialize your modem and is set automatically when "Modem Type" is set to other than "Custom". When "Modem Type" is set to "Custom", "Init" should be set to the appropriate commands to initialize your modem to return result codes in words rather than numbers, to enable connection at 1200 bps only, and to disable error correction, data compression, and flow control. Without these commands, PCCLOCK may be unable to recognize your modem's responses, and your modem may be unable to establish connections with one or more of the time services. If the value set by "Modem Type" doesn't work with your modem, please consult your modem manual, or contact the author for assistance. "Dial" specifies the modem commands needed to call the selected time service. Different commands are used for each time service; the commands for the service specified by the "Time Service" parameter are accessible. Depending on your location and the service selected, you may need to delete the area code and/or "1" prefix from the telephone number. If you do not have tone dialing (Touch Tone service), change "ATDT" to "ATDP" to use pulse dialing. When "Time Service" is "CIS", "Dial" must be modified to dial a 1200-bps CompuServe access number in the same time zone and time season. To find access numbers in your area, log on to CompuServe and GO PHONES. Select a number for which 1200 bps is included in the range of available speeds. Under certain circumstances, such as calling outside a local telephone network or using a special long distance service, you may need to use additional modem commands. Table 4 shows commands that can be used (between the "ATD" and the "^M") in the "Dial" parameter with most Hayes-compatible modems. Some modems have additional commands that can be used while dialing; check your modem documentation for more information. +--------------+------------------------------------------------+ | Command(s) | Effect | |==============+================================================| | 0 to 9, #, | Causes the modem to dial the specified digit. | | and * | | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | space, (, ), | These characters are ignored by the modem, but | | and - | may be used to increase readability of the | | | command. Example: "ATDT 1 (202) 653-0351^M" | | | has the same effect as "ATDT12026530351^M". | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | T | Switches modem to tone dialing. Use if you | | | have Touch Tone service. Example: "ATDT1- | | | 303-494-4774^M" (the default "Dial" command) | | | calls NIST long distance using tone dialing. | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | P | Switches modem to pulse dialing. Use if you | | | do not have Touch Tone service. Example: | | | "ATDP1-202-653-0351^M" calls USNO using pulse | | | dialing. | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | W | Causes the modem to wait for another dialtone. | | | If no dialtone is detected within a specified | | | period (5 seconds for most modems), the modem | | | hangs up and a "NO DIALTONE" result code is | | | displayed. Example: "ATDT303-494-4774W33^M" | | | calls NIST using a long distance service that | | | requires dialing the called number, waiting | | | for another dialtone, then dialing a special | | | code. | |--------------+------------------------------------------------| | , | A comma causes the modem to wait for a speci- | | | fied period (2 seconds for most modems) before | | | continuing to dial. Example: "ATDT9,653- | | | 0351^M" calls USNO from the Washington area, | | | first dialing "9" then waiting briefly to dial | | | outside a local telephone network. | +--------------+------------------------------------------------+ Table 4. Modem Dialing Commands "Term" specifies the commands PCCLOCK uses to hang up your modem (place it "on hook") after calling the time service and when you cancel a call by pressing . The default commands should work with virtually all Hayes-compatible modems. If they do not work with your modem, please check you modem manual, or contact the author for assistance. Certain characters within the values of "Init", "Dial", and "Term" are interpreted by PCCLOCK rather than sent to the modem. "^M", "^m", and "|" (vertical bar) each cause PCCLOCK to send a carriage return character ( key) to the modem. "^" (caret) causes PCCLOCK to interpret the next character as a control character. "^X" (or "^x") sends a control-X character to the modem, where "X" is "A" to "Z", "[", "\", "]", "^", or "_". "~" (tilde) causes PCCLOCK to delay one second before continuing to send commands to the modem. "{" (left brace) causes PCCLOCK to send a standard 200-ms break signal. Command-line switches (Table 2) are used to set less frequently changed configuration parameters. These switches are "sticky" and need to be specified only once, not every time you run PCCLOCK, except if your hardware configuration changes. Configuration switch settings are saved in file PCCLOCK.DAT. The /C, /G, and /M (COLOR, COLOUR, GRAY, GREY, and MONO) switches configure PCCLOCK for the type of display attached to your computer. When PCCLOCK is run for the first time on your system, it automatically configures itself for a color or monochrome display, whichever is present, as though either the /C or /M switch was specified. If you have a grayscale display (a monochrome display capable of displaying at least 16 shades of gray), you may want to use the /G switch, which gives you a larger set of clock designs. The /Fn (FKEYS:n) switch configures PCCLOCK to use n (10 or 12) function keys, i.e., indicates whether and must be used for the Configure and Set by Modem functions or whether and are available. When PCCLOCK is run for the first time on your system, it sets this switch automatically, but may set it incorrectly on some computers (especially laptops) that report the wrong keyboard type. The /Sn (SPEED) switch is intended for use only with nonstandard modems. It specifies the DTE (PC-to-modem) speed PCCLOCK uses to communicate with your modem, which by default, is the same as the DCE (modem-to-modem) speed PCCLOCK uses to communicate with the time service, i.e., 300 bps for NRC and 1200 bps for NIST, USNO, and CIS. If you have a nonstandard modem that requires a different DTE speed, configure PCCLOCK to use the required speed using this switch. Setting Date and Time --------------------- To set the date and time by modem, run PCCLOCK and press or (Set by Modem), or run PCCLOCK with the /A (AUTO) or /Q (QUICK) command-line switch. When you use the /Q (QUICK) switch, PCCLOCK displays messages indicating the progress and results of calling the time service without bringing up the clock display or showing the modem dialog. Otherwise, PCCLOCK displays the commands sent to your modem, result codes returned by the modem, data received from the time service, and any error messages in a window at the top of your screen. If the call is successfully placed and valid data is received, both the date and time are set, and the call is terminated. Call statistics are written to the log file, PCCLOCK.LOG, and, unless the /Q (QUICK) switch was used, displayed in a window at the bottom of the screen. Call statistics are described in Table 5. +--------------+-----------------------------------------------+ | Statistic | Meaning | |==============+===============================================| | Clock set to | Date and time from time service, adjusted to | | | local time | |--------------+-----------------------------------------------| | Was | Date and time immediately prior to setting | |--------------+-----------------------------------------------| | Adjusted by | Adjustment to computer's clock | |--------------+-----------------------------------------------| | Last set | Date and time set by previous call to a time | | | service | |--------------+-----------------------------------------------| | Interval | Period since clock last set by calling a time | | | service | |--------------+-----------------------------------------------| | Performance | Time gained (+) or lost (-) by computer's | | | clock since previous call, in seconds/day | +--------------+-----------------------------------------------+ Table 5. Call Statistics The date and time are adjusted for the time zone specified in your configuration. If Daylight Saving Time is observed in your area (as specified in your configuration) and Daylight Saving Time is in effect, the time (and possibly the date) are adjusted accordingly. If the call is not successful, PCCLOCK displays messages indicating the reason for the failure. In most cases, PCCLOCK will retry the call after a 30-second delay (or when you press ), until a maximum number of retries is reached (9 for the NRC time services, 15 for the others). The /A (AUTO) and /Q (QUICK) switches cause PCCLOCK to run in a non-interactive mode. When these switches are specified without a number of days, PCCLOCK calls the atomic clock, sets the date and time, and exits. When a number of days is specified, PCCLOCK calls the atomic clock only if at least that number of days has elapsed since the last call. PCCLOCK is often run with the /A (AUTO) or /Q (QUICK) switch from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. To set the date and time every time you restart your computer, add the command "pcclock /a" or "pcclock /q" to AUTOEXEC.BAT. To set the date and time periodically, use /An (AUTO:n) or /Qn (QUICK:n). For example, assuming you restart your computer at least once a day, you can set your clock once a week by adding the command "pcclock /a7" or "pcclock /q7") to AUTOEXEC.BAT. When /A (AUTO) or /Q (QUICK) is used, PCCLOCK displays a message indicating the success or failure of the call to the time service. It also sets the exit code to zero if the call is successful and to a nonzero value otherwise, so that the command "IF ERRORLEVEL . . ." can be used in a batch file to test the outcome. Possible exit codes are listed in Table 6; see "Error Messages" below for detailed explanations. +-----------+---------------------------------------------------+ | Exit Code | Corresponding Error Message | |===========+===================================================| | 0 | None | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Internal error - PCCLOCK aborted | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 2 | Error :\PCCLOCK.DAT - | | | | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 3 | Invalid switch - Type "pcclock /?" for help | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 4 | Date and time not set - Call not due for m more | | | day(s) | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 5 | Date and time not set - Call canceled by operator | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 6 | Date and time not set - Serial I/O error n | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 7 | Date and time not set - Response timeout | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 8 | No connection | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 9 | CIS node not in same time zone and season | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 10 | Internal error n | |-----------+---------------------------------------------------| | 11 | Invalid video mode | +-----------+---------------------------------------------------+ Table 6. Exit Codes To set the date or time manually, press either (Set Date) or (Set Time), and follow the displayed instructions. About the Time Services ----------------------- The atomic-clock-based time services accessed by PCCLOCK are operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, formerly NBS, National Bureau of Standards) in Boulder, Colorado; the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) in Washington, D.C.; and the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, Ontario. These agencies provide national time and frequency standards for the U.S. and Canada and contribute to the International Atomic Time Scale (TAI) coordinated by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Paris. The NIST service operates at a maximum of 1200 bps, the USNO service operates only at 1200 bps, the NRC services operate only at 300 bps, and PCCLOCK accesses CompuServe only at 1200 bps. If you have a higher speed modem, PCCLOCK connects with the time services only at these speeds. Using higher speeds would save little if any time, because the amount of data transferred is small and because modems take longer to connect at higher speeds. It could also be less accurate, because higher speeds generally result in greater internal delay through the modem, and the delay varies significantly from modem to modem. Although the signal from NIST, USNO, or NRC arrives at your modem within a few milliseconds of the exact time, the accuracy with which your computer's clock can be set is limited by the fact that it ticks only about once every 55 milliseconds and can only be set to the nearest tick. And, although it can be set to the nearest 55 ms, your computer's clock's accuracy is most affected by its tendency to gain or loose time. However, by using PCCLOCK to set your computer's clock regularly, you can ensure that it will be accurate enough for all but the most demanding applications. In addition to operating the time services used by PCCLOCK, NIST and USNO broadcast voice announcements of the time via shortwave radio, and NIST, USNO, and NRC provide voice announcements of the time by telephone, as shown in Table 7. +--------+------------------+--------------------------------+ | Agency | Radio Station(s) | Telephone Numbers | |========+==================+================================| | NIST | WWV (Colorado) | (303) 499-7111 (WWV) | | | WWVH (Hawaii) | (808) 335-4363 (WWVH) | |--------+------------------+--------------------------------| | USNO | n/a | (202) 653-1800 (long distance) | | | | (900) 410-TIME (50 cents/call) | |--------+------------------+--------------------------------| | NRC | CHU | (613) 745-1576 (English) | | | | (613) 745-9426 (French) | +--------+------------------+--------------------------------+ Table 7. Radio and Telephone Time Announcements About Your Computer's Clock(s) ------------------------------ DOS maintains a "system date" and "system time", which can be read and set with the DOS DATE and TIME commands. The system date and time settings are lost whenever your computer is powered off and must be reset each time the computer is restarted. Most computers have a battery-operated "permanent clock" that keeps the date and time when the computer is turned off. IBM PC AT, AT-compatible, and newer computers have these clocks built- in. Older computers may be equipped with an add-on clock that plugs into an expansion slot or with a "slotless" clock that plugs into a socket under a ROM chip or other socketed chip on the computer's motherboard. If your computer has no permanent clock, you need to set the date and time every time you restart your computer. You can make this less tedious by running PCCLOCK from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and using either its automatic or manual timesetting functions. If your computer does have a permanent clock, the system date and time are set from the permanent clock when the system is restarted. With a built-in clock, this is done automatically. With an add-on or slotless clock, you may need to run a program from AUTOEXEC.BAT; refer to the documentation supplied with the clock. If you also run PCCLOCK from AUTOEXEC.BAT, PCCLOCK should be run following this program. If your computer has a built-in permanent clock, setting the date and/or time with PCCLOCK will set the permanent clock as well as the system date and time, regardless of which operating system you are using. (Prior to DOS version 3.3, the DOS DATE and TIME commands set only the system date and time, not the permanent clock.) Some add-on and slotless permanent clocks come with a device driver that sets the permanent clock whenever the system date or time is set. If you have such a device driver installed, setting the date or time with PCCLOCK will also set the permanent clock. If not, after setting the system date and/or time with PCCLOCK, you will need to run the program supplied with your clock to set it as well. Error Messages -------------- CIS node not in same time zone and season The CompuServe node (access number) called did not provide the time for the time zone and season specified in your configuration. Choose another access number, or correct "Time Zone" and/or "DST Observed". Date and time not set - Call canceled by operator PCCLOCK was run with the /A (AUTO) or /Q (QUICK) switch, and the operator canceled the call by pressing . Date and time not set - Call not due for m more day(s) PCCLOCK was run with the /An (AUTO:n) or /Qn (QUICK:n) switch, and fewer than n days have elapsed since the last successful call to a time service. If you continue to run PCCLOCK with the same switch each day, PCCLOCK will set your clock in m more days. Date and time not set - CIS node not in same time zone and season See "CIS node not in same time zone and season". Date and time not set - Internal error n An error occurred in the procedure PCCLOCK uses to communicate with the time service. PCCLOCK will retry the call up to 9 times for the NRC service, 14 times for the other time services. If this error occurs, please contact the author for assistance. Date and time not set - No connection PCCLOCK was unable to establish a connection to the time service because it received a busy signal or similar response (i.e., "BUSY", "ERROR", "NO ANSWER", "NO CARRIER", "NO DIALTONE", "NO DIAL TONE", or "VOICE") from your modem. PCCLOCK will retry the call up to 9 times for the NRC service, 14 times for the other time services. If this message is preceded by an "ERROR" response from your modem, correct the "Modem Type" or "Init" configuration parameter (see "Configuration" above). Date and time not set - Response timeout PCCLOCK did not receive an initial response from your modem within five seconds, was unable to connect to the time service within 45 seconds, or was unable to complete the call to the time service within 60 seconds after connecting. PCCLOCK will retry the call up to 9 times for the NRC service, 14 times for the other time services. Make sure the power to your modem is on and that the "Serial Port" and "Modem Type" or "Init" configuration parameters are set correctly (see "Configuration" above). Date and time not set - Serial I/O error n PCCLOCK was unable to communicate successfully with your modem. PCCLOCK will retry the call up to 9 times for the NRC service, 14 times for the other time services. Try both interrupt- driven and polled serial I/O (see "Configuration" above), and verify that your modem is operating correctly with your other software. Contact the author for assistance if required. Error :\PCCLOCK.{DAT|LOG} - PCCLOCK was unable to access its configuration (.DAT) or log (.LOG) file, which are located on the same drive and in the same directory as file PCCLOCK.EXE. is replaced by "reading", "creating", or "writing". indicates the probable cause of the error. If PCCLOCK is run from diskette, the diskette should remain in the drive and should not be write-protected while PCCLOCK is running. If PCCLOCK is run from CD-ROM, it will not be able to write either of these files, and should therefore be installed on your hard disk for other than trial use. Internal error n See "Date and time not set - Internal error n". Internal error n - PCCLOCK aborted PCCLOCK detected an error in the internal structure of the PCCLOCK.EXE file, which may be corrupted. Try reinstalling PCCLOCK from diskette or from the .ZIP file. If the error persists, please contact the author. Internal error - PCCLOCK.DAT not updated An error occurred in the procedure PCCLOCK uses to update the configuration file, PCCLOCK.DAT. Please contact the author for assistance. Invalid data received - Retrying . . . A data string received from the time service was not in the correct format, and PCCLOCK is staying online until another data string is received. If this error is intermittent, the cause may be a noisy phone line. If it occurs repeatedly, verify that the "Modem Type" or "Init" configuration parameter is set correctly (see "Configuration above). Invalid switch - Type "pcclock /?" for help One or more switches in the DOS command used to run PCCLOCK were not in the correct format. See "Command-Line Switches" above, or enter "pcclock /?" at the DOS prompt for instructions. Invalid video mode - PCCLOCK aborted Your computer's display was not set for 80-column operation; PCCLOCK cannot operate in 40-column modes. Use the DOS MODE command to select an 80-column display mode, then rerun PCCLOCK. IRQ in use - Using polled I/O PCCLOCK was unable to communicate with your modem using its "interrupt-driven" serial I/O method because the interrupt request line (IRQ) associated with the serial port (as shown in the "Serial Port" configuration parameter) is in use by another program. This error occurs, for example, if you have a serial mouse configured for COM1 and a modem configured for COM3, since both COM1 and COM3 normally use IRQ4. PCCLOCK will try to use its "polled" serial I/O method. For best results, reconfigure your system to avoid IRQ conflicts. No connection See "Date and time not set - No connection". Printer offline or out of paper. PCCLOCK was unable to print a registration/order form. If your printer is connected to parallel port LPT1, ready the printer and try again. Otherwise, refer to "How to Register" below. Response timeout See "Date and time not set - Response timeout". Serial I/O error n See "Date and time not set - Serial I/O error n". UTC Offset must be between -13:00 and +11:00. The "UTC Offset" configuration parameter cannot be used to adjust the time received from the time service over more than a 24-hour range. UTC Offset not in correct format. The "UTC Offset" configuration parameter must be entered as a number of hours, as a number of hours followed by a colon followed by a number of minutes, or as a colon followed by a number of minutes, optionally preceded by a plus or minus sign. Shareware Notice ---------------- PCCLOCK is copyrighted software distributed as shareware and may not be sold without the written permission of the author. However, you are welcome to use this copy of PCCLOCK on a 30-day free trial basis. If you find PCCLOCK to be useful or enjoyable and continue to use it beyond 30 days, you are required to register your copy and pay a one-time fee of $20 (plus shipping and handling) to support its development. When you register, you will receive a printed user's guide plus a copy of the latest version of PCCLOCK on diskette, and you will be entitled to use all future versions of PCCLOCK at no additional charge and without reregistering. Registered users have the right to use a single copy of PCCLOCK and may register additional copies or purchase pre-registered copies on diskette. You are permitted to make multiple copies of PCCLOCK for use within a single business or organization only if you register and pay for each copy that is used beyond a 30-day free trial period. Shareware disk and CD-ROM vendors, user groups, computer clubs, computer stores, bulletin board systems, and individuals are permitted to copy and distribute PCCLOCK for others to use on the same 30-day free trial basis, provided that the program is unmodified and all necessary files are included. A reasonable fee may be charged for media, copying, and shipping and handling or for transmission time. How to Register --------------- To order one or more registered copies of PCCLOCK, run PCCLOCK, press to exit to the registration reminder screen, then follow the displayed instructions. If you would like to register by mail and no printer is available or your printer is not connected to parallel port LPT1, you can register directly with the author by sending your name and address together with your payment of $20 per copy to: M. J. Sadaway, P. O. Box 128-P, South Walpole, MA 02071. Please specify diskette size (3.5" or 5.25"). For direct orders, shipping and handling are free. Payment must be by cash, check, money order, or postal money order, and in U.S. dollars. Checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Bypassing the Registration Reminder Screen ------------------------------------------ Registered users may bypass the registration reminder screen displayed when an unregistered copy of PCCLOCK is exited and may optionally personalize PCCLOCK to display the name of the registered user. Instructions for doing so are given in the printed user's guide included with registered copies of the program. Support Policy -------------- Registered users of PCCLOCK are entitled to support at no additional cost for a minimum of three months from the date of registration. Within this time, the author, when contacted via mail or e-mail, will answer the user's questions concerning the use of PCCLOCK and will attempt to correct any problem reported by the user that causes PCCLOCK to fail to perform in the manner described in the user's guide. If a reported problem is due to the user's specific hardware configuration or software environment rather than an error in PCCLOCK, or the problem cannot otherwise be corrected by the author, the user may request and will receive a full refund of the registration fee. Feedback -------- Your questions, comments, criticisms, and suggestions concerning PCCLOCK are welcome. Please send them to M. J. Sadaway, P. O. Box 128-P, South Walpole, MA 02071, via CompuServe mail to 75046,2272, or via Internet mail to 75046.2272@compuserve.com. Shareware and the ASP --------------------- Shareware is software you can try before you buy. You are permitted to use it, and you are generally free to copy it for others to use, on a trial basis. If you find it to your liking and continue to use it, you are expected to pay for it. Payment is in the form of a registration fee, which entitles you to continue to use the software, and may entitle you to other benefits. The length of the trial period and any restrictions on copying and distribution of the software vary depending on the author and program. Many shareware programs perform unique functions not available in retail software at any price; others are similar to retail programs but usually cost considerably less. Shareware is generally of the same high quality as retail software, and many shareware authors offer technical support more responsive than the big software companies. Plus, shareware has a better than money-back guarantee - if you don't use it, you don't pay for it. The ASP, or Association of Shareware Professionals, is an organization of shareware authors and distributors that promotes the shareware concept. ASP members are required to abide by established standards of professionalism, and the ASP name and logo are your assurances that an author or distributor meets these standards. All ASP shareware includes support by the author for a minimum of three months after user registration, and authors are required to fully refund registration fees to users reporting problems during this period if the problems cannot be resolved. The ASP also helps resolve disputes between shareware users and authors or distributors. Look for the ASP name when choosing shareware. And help ensure the availability of quality software at reasonable prices by registering the shareware programs you use. _______ ____|__ | (R) Michael J. Sadaway --| | |------------------ P. O. Box 128-P | ____|__ | Association of South Walpole, MA 02071 | | |_| Shareware |__| o. | Professionals CompuServe: 75046,2272 -----| | |-------------------- Internet: 75046.2272 |___|___| MEMBER @compuserve.com This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at: Association of Shareware Professionals, 545 Grover Rd., Muskegon, MI 49442, fax (616) 788- 2765, or send a message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. Disclaimer ---------- The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to PCCLOCK and the accompanying documentation. In no event shall the author be liable for any damages, direct or consequential, arising out of the use of or inability to use this product, even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages.